Apparatus facilitating care of a bedfast patient

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FACILITATING CARE OF BEDFAST PATIENT CHARACTERIZED BY A BED ADAPTED TO SUPPORT BEDDING AND A PATIENT AND TO ELEVATE AND LOWER THE BEDDING AND PATIENT VERTICALLY, THE BEDDING INCLUDING AN UPPER LAYER TO PROTUDE THROUGH APERTURES IN A FLAT NET AND SUPPORT A PATIENT&#39;&#39;S BODY WITHOUT IRRITATING THE PATIENT&#39;&#39;S SKIN, AND A BATHING APPARATUS LARGE ENOUGH TO ENCOMPASS THE BED AND PATIENT. THE SPECIFIC STRUCTURE AND ACCESSORIES ARE ALSO DISCLOSED.

Oct. 19, 1971 J, M, B'OND 3,613,127

APPARATUS FACILITATING CARE OF A BEDFAST PATIENT Filed NOV. 5, 1969 2 Sheets$heet 1 A TTORNEYS J. M. BOND Oct. 19, 1971 APPARATUS FACILITATING CARE OF A BEDFAST PATIENT Filed NOV. 5, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent O 3,613,127 APPARATUS FACILITATING CARE OF A BEDFAST PATIENT James M. Bond, 3435 Ave. H, Fort Worth, Tex. 76105 Filed Nov. 5, 1969, Ser. No. 874,342

Int. Cl. A47k 3/12 US. Cl. 4185 25 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus facilitating care of a bedfast patient characterized by a bed adapted to support bedding and a patient and to elevate and lower the bedding and patient vertically, the bedding including an upper layer to protrude through apertures in a flat net and support a patients body without irritating the patients skin; and a bathing apparatus large enough to encompass the bed and patient. The specific structure and accessories are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates to apparatus facilitating care of a bedfast patient. More particularly, this invention relates to a combination of apparatus that enables a bedfast patient to rest comfortably, yet facilitates handling of the patient.

(2) Description of the prior art Care of relatively immobile patients, commonly referred to as bedfast patients, has long been a problem. The devices for assisting in care and handling of such patients have included various and diverse forms. For example, it was known to employ apparatus; such as, a frame supporting straps through grooves in a mattress; for raising and lowering a patient, enabling the patient to be raised and the bedding changed or the mattress and bedding removed and the patient lowered into a tub. Such straps were spaced too far apart to support the bedfast patient in comfort and safety. Other approaches have included a cabinet for bathing a patient or for administering vapor, steam and the like. In such a cabinet structure the body is supported within the cabinet, whereas the head may be extended beyond the cabinet through a door or similar structure. In using these cabinets problems were had getting the patient into and out of the cabinet. Moreover, the cabinets have not been altogether safe. Since the patient and the vapors, steam, etc. were on the interior of the cabinet, and relatively remote from the person controlling the admission of the vapors or steam, it has been possible to submit the patient to excessively high temperatures and the like.

Also, such apparatus required a great deal of strength and manual labor handling the patient, getting him into the cabinet and out and back in bed.

Other apparatus have included: (1) enclosures with mechanism for mopping an absorbent wetting means across the body, and (2) frames mounted on Wheels with power lift means for raising and lifting a patient in a frame called a Bradford frame. These latter devices were "ice unsatisfactory in handling the patients, since they required a great deal of strength and physical labor in moving the patient so as to enable emplacing him in a structure or emplacing the frame lift means about the patient, and were somewhat unsafe in that they were frequently difficult to roll and prone to overturn when slightly defective.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates an end view, partly schematic, illustrating the combination of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial isometric view showing the details of the patient support and the stress sustaining means used in one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial isometric view showing the details of interconnector means used in one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the bathing apparatus having the patient suspended therein for his bath in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the front side of the bathing apparatus used in one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the combination employed in one embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It is a primary object of this invention to provide a combination that facilitates caring for a bedfast patient whereby the patient can be safely bathed and bedding changed without expenditure of manual labor in handling the patient. In addition to the primary object of the invention, it is also an object of the invention to enable suspending the patient safely within a stable bathing appar-atus for giving him a bath.

Referring to FIG. 1, patient 11 is supported by bedding 13 on bed means 15 within bathing apparatus 17. As indicated in ghost lines patient 11 may be raised on bed means 15 and interconnector means 19 employed to fasten patient support 21 to support means 23. The interconnector means may be emplaced without any manual labor in handling the patient. Patient support 21 then retains the patient in place after bed means 15 is lowered from beneath the patient and rolled from Within the bathing apparatus 17.

Bathing apparatus 17 has a skeletal frame 25 that has one side free of obstructions facilitating resheeting a bed or removing the bed therefrom, and has support means 23 on two oppositely disposed sides. If desired the from support means 23 may be normally disposed in an upper position to afford a greater clearance for the nurse or personnel attending a patient and be movable, as indicated by dashed lines 27 into a bathing position for supporting the patient. Front support means 23 may comprise a system of braced tubing that is rotatable into position indicated by dashed lines 27 or may be a braced panel of angle iron, L-shaped steel members, that can be slid downwardly into a position similar to that indicated by dashed lines 27.

Patient support 21 is adapted for supporting the patient within the frame for bathing. The patient support 21 preferably has a perforated sheet structure to enable water to contact the patient from above and below and to drain from around the patient readily. The patient support is adapted to remain in place beneath the patient for emplacement over bedding on the bed means. For greater durability and safety, patient support 21 has, on both sides of the patient, stress sustaining means for attachment to interconnector means 19. The stress sustaining means may be casing 29 having a removable lineal support member 31 therewithin. In this way the lineal support member 31 can be slid from within casing 29 and casing 29 will lie closely adjacent the sides of mattress 33. If desired a downward hanging length of a flexible patient support structure such as flat nylon netting 34 may be employed.

To prevent the patient from sagging unduly in patient support 21, spacer means such as lineal cross members, may be emplaced in end casings 30, FIG. 2, to retain lineal support members 31 widely spaced. End casing 30 is shown in dashed lines since it will not ordinarily be required and since bathing of the patient is not adversely affected by some sagging of patient support 21.

FIG. 2 also illustrates a particularly preferred structure for the patient support 21 in which flat nylon netting 35 has strands 37 surrounding apertures 39. The apertures may be of any shape although the rectangular or hexagonal apertures are the most practical. In a particularly preferred structure the strands are at least about inch wide and no more than about inch wide and define apertures at least about inch and no more than about 2 inches in dimension between adjacent parallel strands. Each strand may comprise a plurality of smaller strands. In this way the patient can be supported in normal repose by bedding protruding through the apertures in the flat nylon net without irritating the patients skin, thereby allevating problems due to bed sores.

In some cases special bedding such as synthetic lambs wool or flotation pad may be required to adequately support the patients body and prevent irritation of the patients skin. Synthetic lambs wool, an imitation of the wool of lambs less than eight months old; made from synthetic material such as nylon can frequently be employed where other types of bedding affect sensitive skin. In some instances, the flotation pad, available commercially from the Stryker Company, Kalamazoo, Mich. 49001, may be required. Flotation pad is a special material resembling human fat and is currently employed for patients with pressure sores such as bed sores. The bedding, and particularly the synthetic lambs wool, of flotation pad, is emplaced on top of the bedding on the bed to receive the patient support, ordinarily a flexible net.

Casing 29 defines a slot into which lineal support member 31 can he slipped and from which it can be slipped to allow the patient support to conform to the bedding when in normal repose. Lineal support member 31 has a plurality of apertures, or fastening points, 41 along its length such that they can be positioned within a cutaway section 43, if desired, to receive an appropriate fastener on interconnector means 19 when the patient is to be suspended within the bathing apparatus.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, interconnector means 19 comprises a lineal coupling member 45 and fastening means 47. Coupling member 45 may be cable or chains as illustrated. Fastening member 47 may be simple S hooks that can be hooked into apertures 41 or into lengths of the chain to obtain the desired tautness and height in supporting the patient within the bathing apparatus. It is preferable, however, to employ snap hooks such as illustrated in FIG. 3 as the fastening means to insure that the interconnector means do not accidentally become disconnected from the patient support. One end of the interconnector means may be welded or otherwise aflixed directly to support means 23. On the other hand, if removable interconnector means 19 are desired, the fastening means 47 may be employed at each end of the coupling means and similar fastening points 41 employed on both support means 23 and lineal support member 31. Double snap hooks as illustrated are preferably employed to insure the connection between the interconnector means and, respectively, the patient support and the support means; as well as to allow adjusting the length of the coupling member and, hence, the tautness in the patient support and the height at which the patient is supported. Any other satisfactory interconnector means may be employed; for example, wrapping the coupling member about support means and stress sustaining means and hooking the ends to effect the desired length.

Once the patient has been supported on patient support 21 by the interconnector means 19, FIG. 4, curtain means 49 is drawn about the structure and the patient prepared for bathing. Curtain means 49 should at least surround the patient on a horizontal plane. If water tends to splash over the top, curtain means 49 should extend over the top. Any water impervious surface may be employed as the curtain means although ordinarily an economical, readily cleanable shower curtain will be employed.

Curtain means 49 has portion 51 providing protection means that can be drawn inwardly with suitable support and having edges that can be zipped together, both above and below the patient support, and about the neck of the patient, to prevent water from splashing onto the patients face and head during his bath. Curtain means 49 also has access means 53. Access means 53 may be simply flaps or edges that can be pulled apart to allow a nurse access to the patients body for cleansing. Alternatively, gloves can be emplaced in the curtain adjacent a transparent panel to allow access to the interior thereof for cleansing the patient without the nurses hair being steamed or otherwise being splattered by droplets of water.

Once supported on patient support, the patient may be given a shower by suitable shower means. The shower means desirably incorporates fixed shower heads 55 and a portable shower head or nozzle 57, with its length of hose from attachment 59. Fixed shower heads or nozzles 55 and hose attachment 59 are connected by conduit means 61 and 63, with a source of hot and cold water. Test spigot 65, and hot water and cold water valves (not shown) are provided to adjust and ascertain the temperature of the water before it is turned on the patient through the shower means by a control of appropriate valves such as valve 66, FIG. 5. In addition to fixed shower heads 55 above the patient, the shower means may also include movable shower heads beneath the patient and adjustable in distance from the patient. As illustrated in FIG. 4 these lower shower heads or nozzles 67 are mounted on a moveable shower frame 69 that can be swung into position beneath the patient about its pivotal mounting means by a shaft and lever 71. Suitable catch means 73 is provided along the end to allow retaining lever 71 at a given position to adjust the distance of shower heads 67 from the patient. Lower shower heads 67 are connected, as by appropriate conduit means 75, with conduit means 61. Separate valves enable employing all or only one of the respective sets of nozzles for selective cleansing when desired.

In FIG. 5, shower frame 69 is shown out of bathing position in a position of normal repose, with handle 71 pointed downwardly. The front support means 23 is illustrated in the upper position, before being rotated down into position for aflixing its interconnector means 19 with the front of the stress sustaining means of patient support 21. Fixed shower heads 55 are located above where the patient will lie in order to spray the patient with water.

Preferably, all of the shower heads 55, 57, and 67 have large diameter nozzles with many holes for providing copious quantities of water at low velocities to enable cleansing the patient, yet prevent irritating the patients skin.

If desired, a master soap dispenser may be included upstream of the conduits leading to the respective shower heads such that it could be activated to incorporate soap into all of the water. An alternative approach is to incorporate the soap dispenser 77 into parallel connection with the conduit leading to portable shower head 57, FIGS. 4 and 5. Soap dispensing control valve 78 enables controlling when and how much soap solution is used. In this way the patient can be soaped with the portable shower head and rinsed with all of the shower means if desired. This allows soaping selected and difficultly cleanable areas preferentially rather than soaping the entire body of elderly patients and, {consequently drying their skin.

Useful in conjunction with obtaining access to the difficultly cleanable and difficultly accessible areas, are leg rests. The leg rests may comprise a transversely mounted or longitudinally mounted means such as one or more bars. One such bar is illustrated by bar 79, dashed lines, (FIG. 4. Bar 79 can be lowered from a cross brace structure '81 into position for retaining the patients legs to allow access to the perineal area for more effective cleansing. Bars like bar 79 will ordinarily be pivotally mounted such that they can be reconnected to upper cross brace structure 81 and moved out of the way. Bar 79 is illustrated in dashed lines; since for many patients, the leg rests will not be necessary, it is sutficient to position the patients limbs on patient support 21.

To prevent chilling of the patient during his bath, heat means such as heat lamps 91, FIG. 4, may be provided. Additionally, heated air blower means 93 is provided for drying the patient and the patient support before being emplaced upon the bed, when it is rolled back into position. To facilitate thoroughly drying the patient and the patient support, heated air blower means 93 has a portable nozzle 95, FIG. 5, and a flexible, large diameter hose 97 for conveying the air from the blower means 93 to nozzle 95. Hose 97 is preferably of the extensible variety covered with fabric so as to take up relatively little room when not in use.

Any suitable drain means, including a removable tub, may be employed for removing the bath water. The tub may be collapsible or inflatable to facilitate storage. Preferably, the drain means is connected to a sewer system. It may comprise a simple drain at a low point in the floor within the periphery of frame 25. On the other hand, an elaborate and relatively deep drain pan 83, FIG. 5, may be employed with a centrally located drain 85. When such a relatively deep drain pan is employed, it is frequently advantageous to employ a permeable grating extending thereover to support the bed when it is in place. Similarly, support post bottom sections 89 advantageously extend through the grating to drain pan 83.

FIG. 6 illustrates the combination in which shower curtain means 49 are partially drawn about patient 11, on his bed under sheets, for example, and on top of patient support 21.

In operation, patient 11 is wheeled into bathing apparatus 17 on his bed, if he is not already placed therein. He is raised to the desired height vertically through appropriate elevating mechanism, illustrated by crank means 99, FIG. 1. Interconnector means 19 are fastened to patient support 21 and to support means 23 and the bed and bedding lowered from beneath the patient. The bed is rolled out of bathing apparatus 17, leaving patient 11 supported by patient support 21 hanging from interconnector means 19.

Curtain means 49 is drawn about the patient and he is bathed, employing portable shower head 57 with its soap where necessary and in conjunction with the remaining shower heads. For example, lever 71 may be lifted to position adjustable shower head 67 at the proper height beneath patient 11. The water is thereafter sprayed on the patient, section 51 of curtain means 49 having been zipped about the patients neck to protect his head and face, if desired. Ordinarily, heat lamps 91 will be ener gized to warm the patient before the water is turned on and the temperature of the water wil have been adjusted by testing through test spigot 65. Copious quantities of water may be employed to effect the desired cleansing of the patient, with or without intermittent injection of soap into the water, and the water turned off. Thereafter, the patient is dryed employing heated air supplied from heated air blower means 93 through hose 97 to nozzle 95. The bed is rolled back into place and elevated to support the patient. Interconnector means 19 are released and the patient and the bedding lowered to the position of normal repose and a sheet or the like placed over the patient. If desired the patient may be dressed before the sheet is emplaced over him.

It is apparent that the bedding can be changed by the same easy technique and without manual handling of the patient. That is the bed is raised and the patient support 21 fastened to support means 23 by interconnector means 19 and the bed lowered from beneath the patient. The bed may be rolled from within bathing apparatus '17 to facilitate changing the bedding, the bedding changed, and the bed rolled back therewithin. The bed is again raised to support the patient, interconnector means 19 released, and the patient and the bedding again lowered to a position of normal repose. Front support means 23 can be rotated to its upper position and fastened to be out of the way, if desired.

In any event, no manual lifting of the patient is necessary since patient support 21 may be left emplaced beneath the patient and over bedding on the bed. Of course, patient support 21 can be removed, if desired, by simply rolling the patient to one side, gathering patient support 21, and then rolling the patient over the gathered patient support to the other side. Patient support 21 is placed beneath the patient by the converse of this process prior to bathing the patient. This invention, however, has its greatest utility when patient support 21 is left in place beneath the patient and over the bed, and a patient support 21 that is designed for that purpose is preferably employed.

In certain instances, it may be desirable to employ a relatively rigid sheet of perforated material as the patient support. In such event, the patient support may be slid up to the patient after the patient has been rolled to one side of the bed and the patient rolled onto the patient support which is slid across the top of the bed before being fastened to interconnector means 19.

The materials ordinarily employed in like devices may be employed in the respective elements of the combination described in the various embodiments of the invention. The support means 23 must be structurally adequate to support the tension necessary to retain the patient support 21 sufliciently taut. Similarly, interconnector means 19, stress sustaining means, and patient support 21 must be structurally adequate. Patient support 21 must cooperate with bedding in the manner described to provide the requisite comfort for the patient.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination facilitating handling of patients comprising:

(a) bed means adapted to support bedding and a patient, and to elevate and lower said bedding and said patient vertically;

(b) bedding including an upper layer of material adapted to protrude through apertures in a flat net and support a patients body without irritating the skin thereof;

(c) frame means having a side adapted to facilitate rolling said bed means thereinto and therefrom and having support means on two oppositely disposed sides; said support means being adapted to support the weight of a patient suspended therebetween;

(d) patient support adapted for supporting said patient in said frame means, said patient support having a perforated sheet structure that is also adapted to remain in place beneath said patient on said bedding, the perforations in said patient support being so spaced and of suflicient size that said bedding protrudes therethrough and supports said patients body and alleviates problem of skin irritation; and having on both sides of said patient near the top of said bedding at the edge of said bed, stress sustaining means for attaching to interconnector means;

(e) interconnector means for connecting said patient suport to said support means on said frame means via said stress sustaining means;

(f) shower mean adapted to be connected with a source of hot and cold water for supplying water for cleansing areas of the body of said patient; and

(g) drain means for removing bath water sprayed from said shower means over said patient; whereby said patient can be positioned within said frame on said bed, elevated to a position such that said interconnector means can be fastened to said support means and to said stress sustaining means, said bed lowered and moved out of said frame, said patient showered, cleansed, and dried, and said bedding on said bed changed if desired, and said bed moved back within said frame and elevated to support said patient and said patient support means and to enable disconnecting said interconnector means and returning said patient to normal reposing position with said patient support emplaced beneath said patient.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein there is provided curtain means for surrounding, at least on a horizontal plane, said body of said patient for said cleansing, said curtain means having access means therein for providing access to said patients body for said cleansing.

3. The bathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shower means includes means for controllably dispensing soap into said water to be employed to bathe said patient.

4. The bathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shower means comprises a portable nozzle, hose and attachment for cleansing said ditficultly accessible areas.

5. The bathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shower means comprises a nozzle supported on said frame above said patient and a portable nozzle, hose and attachment.

6. The bathing apparatus of claim 5 wherein said shower means also comprises a nozzle beneath said patient and adjustable in distance from said patient.

7. The bathing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said access means comprises two edges in said shower curtain that may be adjusted to allow said access.

8. The bathing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said access means comprises built-in gloves and an adjacent transparent section in said curtain means.

9. The bathing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said curtain means has protection means for preventing spraying of water into the patients face during his bath.

10. The bathing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said frame includes leg rests for supporting legs of said patient in a position allowing better access to and better cleansing of the perineal area of said patient.

11. The bathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interconnector means comprises a lineal coupling member and fastening means near at least one end thereof for fastening to said stress sustaining means and to said support means.

12. The bathing apparatus of claim 11 wherein said lineal coupling member is a chain alfixed to respective said support means and said fastening means for each is a snap hook.

13. The bathing apparatus of claim 11 wherein said lineal coupling member is a chain and said fastening means comprises snap hooks fastened at each end thereof.

14. The bathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stress sustaining means comprises a lineal supporting member for connection with said patient support on each side of said patient.

15. The bathing apparatus of claim 14 wherein each said lineal supporting member is disengageably connectable with said patient support, whereby each may be disengaged for normal repose and said patient support can be emplaced beneath said patient on a bed, and each said lineal supporting member may be engaged therewith for supporting said patient support in connection with said support means.

16. The bathing apparatus of claim 14 wherein each said lineal support member has a plurality of longitudinally spaced fastening points for receiving said interconnector means and is insertable within a casing formed into said patient support.

17. The bathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said perforated sheet structure of said patient support is fiat netting.

18. The bathing apparatus of claim 17 wherein said fiat netting is of nylon net.

19. The bathing apparatus of claim 18 wherein said nylon net has a width greater than a bed on which it and the patient are to be placed and has a casing formed on each side near the top of said bed for receiving a lineal supporting member to form a stress sustaining means.

20. The bathing apparatus of claim 17 wherein said flat netting is nylon net having strands that are at least about inch wide and no more than about /8 inch wide and has apertures of at least about A inch and no more than about 2 inches between adjacent said strands of said net.

21. The combination of claim 1 wherein said upper layer of material of said bedding comprises synthetic lambs wool.

22. A combination facilitating changing bedding of a relatively immobile patient comprising:

(a) bed means supporting said bedding and any patient thereon, said bed means being adapted to elevate and lower said bedding and said patient vertically;

(b) frame means disposed within a portion of a room and having a side adapted to facilitate rolling said bed means thereinto and therefrom and having support means on two oppositely disposed sides; said support means adapted to support the weight of a patient suspended therebetween;

(c) patient support having sufficient strength for supporting said patient in said frame means, said patient support being adapted for easy emplacement beneath said patient and having stress sustaining means for attaching to interconnector means on both sides of said patient; and

(d) interconnector means for connecting said patient support to said support means on said frame means via said stress sustaining means;

whereby said patient can be positioned within said frame on said bed, elevated to a position such that said interconnector means can be fastened to said support means and to said stress sustaining means, said bed lowered and its bedding changed and then elevated to support said patient and enable disconnecting said interconnecting means, and lowering said patient to normal reposing position.

23. The bathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said support means is adjustable in height.

24. The bathing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said patient support also includes at each end a spacer means for minimizing sagging of said patient support when supporting said patient during his bath.

25. The combination of claim 1 wherein said upper layer of material of said bedding comprises flotation pad.

(References on following page) 9 10 References Cited 3,203,009 8/1965 Lundberg 4-185 X 3,364,506 1/1968 Hale 5-81 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,495,869 2/1970 Ingemansson 581 X 4/1889 Murdock 581 6/1897 Renstrom 128366 X 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 12/1897 Attkisson 581 X 322,154 9/1902 France 4145 11/1898 Kaeding 5-81 1,325,728 3/1963 France 581 2/ 1909 Papworth 4162 395,982 7/1921 Germany 4-145 12/1929 Peel 128369 X 8/ 1932 Staudt 4185 X 10 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner 12/1936 Kenned 4-154 X 11/1953 Willis 1 4 145 D. B. MASSENBERG, Asslstant Exarnmer 1/1961 Ashby, Jr. 4185 

